> Aspirin is usually a better option at low doses (as long as your stomach does not suffer too much from it, since it causes stomach bleeding).
My experience in obtaining information via the Internet goes back over a quarter century, and I've got to disagree with your advice in both the specific (medical) and general case.
I'm not saying "believe everything you hear", but take the information under advisement and evaluate claims.
Among the first stories I came across via the Net were the Fleischman-Pons cold fusion story (1989), 25 years ago this year, and the Intel "FOOF" bug (1997) [1,2], both of which largely predated the widespread adoption of the World Wide Web.
The first story turned out to be unsubstantiated research, and highly critical responses appeared almost immediately. The FOOF bug turned up with proof-of-concept tests, and eventually even a Linux kernel boot-time check (which I fondly remember scrolling past many, many times). In both cases, dissemination of information online eventually arrived at the truth.
And that's pretty much the case for all information. Hoaxes, including scientific and medical hoaxes existed before the Internet and WWW, and continue after. Shortly after the the cold fusion story, I was receiving, via postal mail, information on a laetrile cancer treatment (utterly unsubstantiated) as a result of someone who'd suggested same to me, in person, and passed on the information. Much as a useful therapy would have benefited someone I love and miss to this day, the hoax information was anything but helpful. The hepotoxicity of acetominiphen / paracetemol (Tylenol) is something I also first learned of by direct personal contact, in this case from someone who'd worked on drug safety trials with the compound, and absolutely positively refused to touch the stuff or allow anyone in his family to do so. That turned out to be pretty well substantiated.
One of the benefits of information conveyed through open forums is that others can challenge and correct the information provided, and cite references and resources. No, it's not perfect, but it's pretty good.
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Notes:
1. http://partners.nytimes.com/library/national/science/050399s...
This is excellent advice, but the scaremongering re Reye's is unnecessary. Many more lives & livers would be saved by people ceasing their use of acetaminophen than would be risked by people switching to aspirin.
(In fact, Reye's syndrome was used as an example of something with a "vanishing" baseline risk in a study in Epidemiology recently.)
But they may have kids.
Look, most of us don't need to be told that coffee is hot, and can burn you, but we're told anyway.
> Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between aspirin taken for viral illnesses and the development of Reye’s syndrome.[8] But no animal model of Reye’s syndrome has been developed in which aspirin causes the condition.[9]
It's tiring to repeat it, but correlation and causation are two very different things.
My point wasn't to say Aspirin is or isn't better than Tylenol.
My point is to say taking medical advice on internet forums, isn't a good idea.
Actually, in most cases, it seems many developed countries outside of the US think so, see my other post: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=7564311
It may not be a good idea but if it exists, it means there's a lack of information out there.
While this is a much lower risk for 20 year olds and up, which may in fact make Aspirin safer than acetaminophen it is not the case for pediatrics.
Considering this site has a not insignificant number of under-19s and many who have kids it is important not to spread misinformation and as always consult with a physician or pharmacist.
[1] http://www.aafp.org/afp/2009/1215/p1472.html [2] http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/diseases/reye.htm [3] http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/reyes-syndrome...
That's only the position in the US, I believe. In France, as long as you are more than 30 kg (children from 9 to 15) you can take aspirin.
> http://www.doctissimo.fr/medicament-ASPIRINE-UPSA.htm
I seriously doubt North American kids are facing lethal dangers while kids in France would be safe at the same age, it's not like the populations are very genetically different or something.
EDIT: Confirmed in Japan as well, you can give aspirin to children and even babies in Japan - there are no particular contraindications except prior patient history, and the discretion of the HCP. Link : http://www.info.pmda.go.jp/go/pack/3399007H1021_1_15/@Generi...
So, because FDA decides something does not mean everyone agrees with it universally.